The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-06
THE MISSIONARY LABORERS
Meeting of American Board of Commits
sioners for Foreign Missions.
A Protracted and Very Spirited Debate Upon
the Question of Agreeing to the Report
of the Prudential Committee.


of FOREIGN Missions was all that could be de-
sired Every inch Of space in the City Hall was
crowded. The platform was enlarged for the
occasion. but it was far too small. Reporters
filled all the space assigned them and many had
to stand and do their writing. When, after the
reading of Secretary Smiths report, the an
nouncement was made of the death of ex-Gov
Washburn. which had occurred in the ante
room, very suddenly. Of apoplexy. During the
reading of the report. a hush fell upon the vast
audience and the tone of President Bartlett's
touching prayer sounded as if uttered in a FAM
lily circle of mourners.
The pale form lay upon a lounge, all uncon-
scious of the hurried, whispered consultations
as to VIII at should be done to satisfy friends and
make the other arrangements which the case
required. Meanwhile the work Of the great
gather ing which had called men of weight in
social, p official aud business circles. like the
eminent man who had just died, from all parts
of the world, from the presence of a thousand
imp ortant private and public duties. went on in
the room close by. All the year, in all parts of
the world, business had been accumuiatlng
which demanded and secured the eager atten-
ton OF the audience. This was as Governor
Washburn would have had It, and be would
have been among the closest listeners of them
ALL After the report OF committees on the re-
port Of the home department on the place and
preacher for next meeting, Rev. DIR. Judson Smith
read a report on the missions of China, Africa
and the Pacific islands. The following is an alb
stract: Five of the missions have been estab-
lshed over twelve years. and are thoroughly
equipped for their varied work; four have been
planted but seven years, and are just beginning
to measure themselves with the almost bound
less opportunities that surround them Several
missionaries have died this year. Truth is gain
ing foothold in China, and the people welcome
the missionaries. The number OF converts has
doubled in ten years. and now exceeds 30, 600
There are sixty four laborers in the field. but the
force should be twice as large. More than 5000
persons have received medical treatment in
the China mission instruction a. is being
given to nearly every There
fifteen churches. with 1886 members. 10 per cent.
having joined this year. The north China mis-
sion has been weak-handed but more have
Joined the churches than for several vars past,
107 in total of 961. The high-school At Tung
Chow promises to become a school Of liberal
training in the highest sense. flourishing
Young Mems Christian Association is located
there, and the eight young men who graduated
at the Theological seminary two years ago are
doing good work. The number of pupils in the
Bridgeman School for Girls at Pekln. who are
sef-supporting. is increasing. The medical
treated at the four stations of the
mission amounts to 1900. The Shanse
forcements wanted. The same is especially
true of the Hong Kong mission, where nothing
but lack of an adequate force prevents the I'M
mediate cultivation of q wide and waiting field.
In Africa the Zulu mission is prosperous; the
churches report an increase of 129 members in a
total of 969. The schools are growing. the tenn
perance cause is gaining ground and the native
pastors are increasing Recruits are greatly
needed, however. Micronesia has forty six self
supporting churches, with 5,312 members, more
than can be found in any other mission of tho
board. There six high schools. forty-two
common schools and 800 pupils. The report
briefly mentions the report Of Mr.. Doane as one
of the difficulties liable to arise in missionary
work. The summary shows twenty-five mis-
sions 891 stations 166 ordained missionaries
twelve physicians ordained, ten men assistants,
269 women. making 457 persons sent from this
country. There Isl native pastors, 1893
preachers and catechists. !. l64 school teachers,
and 325 other native helpers. The churches
ditions for the year ore 2,906. There are fifty
five hgh-schools, theological seminaries and
station classes. with 3, 623 pupils The girls in
boarding schools. of which the are forty-one,
number 2,31S There are 87S common schools.
with 34.417 pupils, SO that tho whole number
under instruction 10 Al 10l.
DIR. Clark read part missions in Turkey,
India. Asia and the Papal lands. In India, tho
report said there was danger OF the work slip
ping away for lack of means to develop it. AT
all other points progress was most satisfactory,
and the work might be greatly increased with
increased means.
The report of the prudential committee on
the expediency of calling councils in certain
cases. was read by Secretary John Smith. It is
q long document the essential points of which
are contained in this recapitulation by the COM
mittee. Seeing. then. that by general consent
seeing that to cali them only in special
cases would be open to grave objections. and to
call them in all cases would DO cumbersome;
seeing that councils, being local, ephemeral and
irresponsible, are inadequate for the purposes;
seeing that mixed responsibilities in selecting
candidates would produce friction, and seeing
that unity of trust in supporting missionaries
has long worked well and will a wider
harmony than any other method, the committee
do not think the measure submitted for their
is expedient
AS DR.. Smith finished reading his
port, Rev. Henry T. Cheever undertook, imme-
dIately after, to introduce a resolution that it
the sense of the loyal and loving constituency of
the American board that the belief that future
probation is permissible the part of candi
dates for the missionary field shall not exclude
them from il. 1t ruled out of order. and
then DR.. Quinn moved that the report of the
prudential committee be adopted Ex-Presi-
dent Porter moved that it be referred special
committee. but Rev. Dr. Eddy pleaded for a
chance of discussion and the motion making it
first in the order for this afternoon prevailed
At the afternoon session. after the appoint
ment of committees to consider the condition of
of the different mission fields the main question
of accepting the report of the prudential com
nittee. and the adoption of the last clause of
the report, which expresses the opinion of the
committee that the calling of councils is inexpe-
dent was taken up. Ex-PresIdent Porter moved
that the whole subject be referred to a commit |
tee to report next year
Rev. DR.. Noble. of Chicago, thought that the |
corporate members had all made up their minds
On the question. and that further discussion and
were unnecessary. The motion to |
refer the report was lost-91 TO 40. The report |
was accepted and the question required the
adoption Of the recommendation.
Rev DR.. Patton, of Washington, opposed its |
adoption. Any other method than by councils !
was unsafe and uncone regatonal.
Samuel FL. Potter, of Terre Haute Ind. said: |
We want a creed that means somethipg more |
than the one reported to the last national coun- |
Ill Until we have safe creed the only safe |
course is to refer questions of doctrines to the |
prudential committee
Professor Harris, of Yale Divinity School, |
wanted the prudential committee relieved of |
Iii questions as to doctrines. Dr. Hamlin, a
urned missionary from Turkey, said the results
q the missionary field would be terrible If men
were sent there with loose ideas of the Bible.
Rev. DR.. Eddy. of Detroit, said he should
1ote for the motion, but he had certain criticisms
% make regarding the methods of the prudential
committee. Said he: Don't send out any more
reeds for the Lords sake. Deal with each case
IN it's merits. In q certain sense there must be
compromise. speak in all reverence when |
ay that the redemption of Christ was a compro-